Brian Acton, co-founder of Meta-owned WhatsApp, has been named interim CEO of encrypted messaging app Signal, with longtime CEO Moxie Marlinspike stepping aside.
Driving the news: Marlinspike, who's been at Signal for almost a decade, said in a blog post he feels comfortable replacing himself as CEO now, based on Signal's growing team and success.
The Democratic National Committee has hired Steve Tran, a cybersecurity executive and former law enforcement official to be its new chief security officer.
Why it matters: Cybersecurity threats have emerged as a major point of risk for political parties, a fact brought to light by hacks during the 2016 election.
Take-Two Interactive, publisher of games like Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K, agreed to buy Zynga for $12.7 billion in cash and stock.
Why it matters: This reflects how traditional game publishers are spending big on mobile, where Zynga has had success with both its legacy hits (e.g., Farmville, Words with Friends) and so-called hypercasual games like Hair Challenge.
Lawmakers and lobbyists anticipate a major fight over antitrust bills meant to tame Big Tech, before the midterms put an unofficial end to the legislative effort.
Why it matters: The bills could remake how Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google operate and treat competitors — if they make it over the finish line.
If you missed the Golden Globes on Sunday, you weren't alone. For the first time in decades, the show wasn't broadcast on live television or via a digital livestream, due to an ongoing public relations crisis that took the event completely offline.
Why it matters: The Globes are typically a massive Hollywood affair, drawing millions of live viewers and acting as a litmus test for major movies ahead of the Oscars. But amid continued scrutiny over its lack of representation, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was forced to dial back the show.
